Display Rack Assembly for Wrenches with Different Handles

ABSTRACT

A display rack assembly includes a rack having two coupling sections for releasably and fixedly coupling with a first wrench with a first handle and a second wrench with a second handle. The second handle includes a handle section having two opposite wider faces perpendicular to two opposite wider faces of the first handle. The handle section further includes two opposite narrower faces perpendicular to two opposite narrower faces of the first handle. A customer may hold one of the narrower faces of the first handle and one of the wider faces of the handle section of the second handle and apply a rotational force to try the wrenches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a display rack assembly and, moreparticularly, to a display rack assembly allowing try-on of wrencheswith different handles.

To provide a display effect for attracting potential buyers, wrenchesare often packaged in hanger boards hung on hooks in a market. Thehanger boards are arranged according to the types of the wrenches toobtain the required display effect without try-on function. TaiwanPatent Application No. 94117498 discloses a display rack to which awrench is rotatably mounted to provide a try-on function. Display racksof other arrangements have also been proposed allowing users to trywrenches. However, none of them allow try-on of wrenches under load.Specifically, none of the currently existing display racks providesimulation of operating conditions of wrenches, particularly wrencheswith twisted handles or wrenches with handles having tapered widths ineach of two pairs of opposite faces thereof. Potential customers are,thus, lost.

A need exists for a display rack that simulates operating conditions ofwrenches with different handles to allow try-on.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves this need and other problems in the fieldof try-on of wrenches with different handles by providing, in apreferred form, a display rack assembly including a rack having firstand second coupling sections for receiving first and second wrenches.Each of the first and second coupling section includes two parallel,spaced positioning walls defining a positioning groove.

According to the preferred form, the first wrench includes a firsthandle having two ends for driving fasteners. The first handle includestwo opposite first wider faces and two opposite first narrower facesextending between and perpendicular to the first wider faces. Anengaging hole extends from one of the first wider faces through theother first wider face. Each first wider face has a width between thefirst narrower faces and substantially the same as a spacing between thepositioning walls of the first coupling section of the rack. The firstwrench is fixed in the positioning groove of the first coupling sectionby extending a screw through the engaging hole of the first handle intoa screw hole in a bottom wall between the positioning walls of the firstcoupling section. The first narrower faces of the first handlerespectively abut with inner faces of the positioning walls of the firstcoupling section.

According to the preferred form, the second wrench includes a secondhandle having two ends for driving fasteners and a transition sectionbetween the ends. A first handle section is formed between an end of thesecond handle and the transition section. A second handle section isformed between the other end of the second handle and the transitionsection. The first handle section of the second handle includes twoopposite second wider faces and two opposite second narrower facesextending between and perpendicular to the second wider faces. Anengaging hole extends from one of the second wider faces through theother second wider face. Each second wider face has a width between thesecond narrower faces and substantially the same as a spacing betweenthe positioning walls of the second coupling section. The second handlesection of the second handle includes two opposite third wider faces andtwo opposite third narrower faces extending between and perpendicular tothe third wider faces. The third wider faces are perpendicular to thesecond wider faces. The third narrower faces are perpendicular to thesecond narrower faces. The first handle section of the second wrench isfixed in the positioning groove of the second coupling section of therack by extending another screw through the engaging hole of the firsthandle section of the second handle into a screw hole in a bottom wallbetween the positioning walls of the second coupling section. The secondnarrower faces of the first handle section of the second handlerespectively abut with inner faces of the positioning walls of thesecond coupling section. The third wider faces of the second handlesection of the second wrench are perpendicular to the first narrowerfaces of the first wrench, and the third narrower faces of the secondhandle section of the second wrench are perpendicular to the first widerfaces of the first wrench.

A customer may grasp one of the first narrower faces distant to thesecond wrench and one of the third wider faces distant to the firstwrench and apply a rotational force to try the first and secondwrenches. Since the first and second wrenches are fixed, simulatedoperating conditions of the first and second wrenches are provided.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a display rack assembly of afirst embodiment according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the display rack assembly ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the display rack assemblyof FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a front elevational view of the display rack assembly ofFIG. 1 depicting try-on of wrenches in a holding direction.

FIG. 5 shows a rear elevational view of the display rack assembly ofFIG. 1 depicting try-on of wrenches in another holding direction.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a display rack assembly of a secondembodiment according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 shows a front elevational view of the display rack assembly ofFIG. 6 depicting try-on of wrenches in a holding direction.

FIG. 8 shows a rear elevational view of the display rack assembly ofFIG. 6 depicting try-on of wrenches in another holding direction.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respectto number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to formthe preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skillof the art after the following teachings of the present invention havebeen read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensionalproportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similarrequirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing teachings of the present invention have been read andunderstood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms“first”, “second”, “third”, “end”, “section”, “spacing”, “width”, andsimilar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these termshave reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it wouldappear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only tofacilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A display rack assembly of a first embodiment according to the preferredteachings of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawingsand generally designated 100. The display rack assembly 100 includes arack 10 having first and second coupling sections 11. According to thepreferred form shown, the rack 10 includes rectangular cross sectionsand has a front face 101 and a rear face 102. Each of the first andsecond coupling sections 11 includes two parallel, spaced positioningwalls 12 on the rear face 102 thereof. A positioning groove 18 isdefined between the positioning walls 12 of each of the first and secondcoupling sections 11 and includes a bottom wall 16 having a screw hole13.

A first wrench 20 includes a first handle 201 in the most preferred formof a flat handle having first and second ends 202 for driving fasteners.The first and second ends 202 of the first wrench 20 may be of anydesired forms including but not limited to open ends and box ends withor without ratcheting mechanisms. According to the preferred form shown,two opposite first wider faces 21 extend from the first end 202 throughthe second end 202 of the first handle 201. An engaging hole 23 in themost preferred form of a screw hole extends from one of the first widerfaces 21 through the other first wider face 21. The engaging hole 23includes an enlarged section 231 in one of the first wider faces 21distant to the rack 10. Two opposite first narrower faces 22 extend fromthe first end 202 through the second end 202 of the first handle 201 andbetween and perpendicular to the first wider faces 21. Each first widerface 21 has a width between the first narrower faces 22 andsubstantially the same as a spacing between the positioning walls 12 ofthe first coupling section 11. Each first narrower face 22 has a widthbetween the first wider faces 21 and smaller than that of each firstwider face 21. The first wrench 20 is coupled with the first couplingsection 11 of the rack 10 by extending a screw 14 through the engaginghole 23 of the first handle 201 into the screw hole 13 of the firstcoupling section 11 for fixing the first wrench 20 in the positioninggroove 18 of the first coupling section 11. The screw 14 has an enlargedscrew head 141 received in the enlarged section 231 of the engaging hole23 of the first handle 201. It is noted that the first narrower faces 22of the first handle 201 respectively abut with inner faces of thepositioning walls 12 of the first coupling section 11. Thus, movement ofthe first wrench 20 relative to the rack 10 is avoided.

A second wrench 30 includes a second handle 301 in the most preferredform of a twisted handle having first and second ends 302 for drivingfasteners and a transition section 34 between the first and second ends302. The first and second ends 302 of the second wrench 30 may be of anydesired forms including but not limited to open ends and box ends withor without ratcheting mechanisms. According to the preferred form shown,a first handle section 36 a is formed between the first end 302 of thesecond handle 301 and the transition section 34. A second handle section36 b is formed between the second end 302 of the second handle 301 andthe transition section 34. The first handle section 36 a of the secondhandle 301 includes two opposite second wider faces 31 and two oppositesecond narrower faces 32 extending between and perpendicular to thesecond wider faces 31. An engaging hole 33 in the most preferred form ofa screw hole extends from one of the second wider faces 31 through theother second wider face 31. The engaging hole 33 includes an enlargedsection 331 in one of the second wider faces 31 distant to the rack 10.Each second wider face 31 has a width between the second narrower faces32 and substantially the same as a spacing between the positioning walls12 of the second coupling section 11. Each second narrower face 32 has awidth between the second wider face 31 and smaller than that of eachsecond wider face 31. The second handle section 36 b of the secondhandle 301 includes two opposite third wider faces 31 and two oppositethird narrower faces 32 extending between and perpendicular to the thirdwider faces 31. The third wider faces 31 are perpendicular to the secondwider faces 31. The third narrower faces 32 are perpendicular to thesecond narrower faces 32. Each third wider face 31 has a width betweenthe third narrower face 32. Each third narrower face 32 has a widthbetween the third wider faces 31 and smaller than that of each thirdwider face 31.

The first handle section 36 a of the second wrench 30 is coupled withthe second coupling section 11 of the rack 10 by extending another screw14 through the engaging hole 33 of the first handle section 36 a of thesecond handle 301 into the screw hole 13 of the second coupling section11 for fixing the first handle section 36 a of the second wrench 30 inthe positioning groove 18 of the second coupling section 11. The screw14 for fixing the first handle section 36 a has an enlarged screw head141 received in the enlarged section 331 of the engaging hole 33 of thesecond handle 301. The second narrower faces 32 of the first handlesection 36 a of the second handle 301 respectively abut with inner facesof the positioning walls 12 of the second coupling section 11. Thus,movement of the second wrench 30 relative to the rack 10 is avoided. Itis noted that the third wider faces 31 of the second handle section 36 bof the second wrench 30 are perpendicular to the first narrower faces 22of the first wrench 20 and that the third narrower faces 32 of thesecond handle section 36 b of the second wrench 30 are perpendicular tothe first wider faces 21 of the first wrench 20.

It can be appreciated that a distance T (FIG. 5) between one of thefirst narrower faces 22 of the first wrench 20 distant to the secondwrench 30 and one of the third wider faces 31 of the second handlesection 36 b of the second wrench 30 distant to the first wrench 20allows a person trying the first and second wrenches 20 and 30 to holdthe first an d second wrenches 20 and 30 with a single hand. Preferably,the distance T is smaller than the distance from the part between thethumb and index finger of a hand of a general user to the proximalinterphalangeal joint of the middle finger of the hand of the generaluser. Specifically, the first and second wrenches 20 and 30 can be heldby a hand of a person by grasping one of the first narrower faces 22distant to the second wrench 30 and one of the third wider faces 31distant to the first wrench 20. Since movements of the first and secondwrenches 20 and 30 are prohibited, simulated operating conditions of thefirst and second wrenches 20 and 30 are provided. Particularly, theperson may hold the first and second wrenches 20 and 30 in a mannershown in FIG. 4, wherein the fingers of the hand are in contact with oneof the third wider faces 31 of the second wrench 30 distant to the firstwrench 20 whereas the palm of the person's hand is in contact with oneof the first narrower faces 22 of the first wrench 20 distant to thesecond wrench 30. Since the first and second wrenches 20 and 30 arefixed, when the person applies a rotational force to the first andsecond wrenches 20 and 30, the reactive force acting on the hand of theperson makes the person feel pain in the part between the thumb and theindex finger in contact with the first narrower face 22 having a smallerarea, for the pressure is in inverse proportion to the surface area onwhich the force acts. The person will not feel pain at the fingers thatare in contact with the third wider face 31.

The person may hold the first and second wrenches 20 and 30 in adifferent manner shown in FIG. 5, wherein the palm of the hand is incontact with one of the third wider faces 31 of the second wrench 30distant to the first wrench 20 whereas the fingers of the hand are incontact with one of the first narrower faces 22 of the first wrench 20distant to the second wrench 30. Since the first and second wrenches 20and 30 are fixed, when the person applies a rotational force to thefirst and second wrenches 20 and 30, the reactive force acting on thehand of the person makes the person feel pain at the fingers in contactwith the first narrower face 22 having a smaller area. The person willnot feel pain in the part between the thumb and the index finger that isin contact with the third wider face 31.

The person is, thus, capable of experiencing simulated operatingconditions of first and second wrenches 20 and 30 having different firstand second handles 201 and 301 and feeling the differences therebetween.This will greatly encourage the person to buy the wrenches 20 and 30.

FIGS. 6-8 show a display rack assembly 100 of a second embodimentaccording to the preferred teachings of the present invention. Thesecond embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodimentexcept in the transition section 34 a of the second handle 30.Specifically, the transition section 34 a of the second handle 301 ofthe second wrench 30 includes two opposite faces 38 a each of which isinterconnected between one of the second wider faces 31 of the firsthandle section 36 a and one of the third narrower faces 32 of the secondhandle section 36 b and has increased widths toward one of the secondwider faces 31. The transition section 34 a further includes another twoopposite faces 38 b between the faces 38 a. Each of the faces 38 b isinterconnected between one of the second narrower faces 31 of the firsthandle section 36 a and one of the third wider faces 31 of the secondhandle section 36 b and has increased widths toward one of the thirdwider faces 31. Since the transition section 34 a does not affect thetry-on of the first and second wrenches 20 and 30, the display rackassembly 100 of the second embodiment provides the same advantages asthe first embodiment. It can be appreciated that other forms of thetransition section 34, 43 a of the second handle 30 would be within theskill of the art.

Now that the basic teachings of the present invention have beenexplained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one havingordinary skill in the art. For example, a sticker may be bonded to thefront face 101 of the rack 10 and include descriptions encouragingcustomers to try the wrenches 20 and 30. Trademarks and/or descriptionsencouraging customers to try the wrenches 20 and 30 may be directlyformed on the front face 101 of the rack 10 by printing or othersuitable methods. Furthermore, other arrangements for releasably fixingthe first handle 201 and the first handle section 36 a of the secondhandle 301 on the rack 10 would be within the skill of the art.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. A display rack comprising, in combination: a rack including first andsecond coupling sections; a first wrench including a first handle havingfirst and second ends, with the first handle including two oppositefirst wider faces extending from the first end through the second end ofthe first handle, with the first handle further including two oppositefirst narrower faces extending from the first end through the second endof the first handle and between and perpendicular to the first widerfaces, with each of the first wider faces having a width between thefirst narrower faces, with each of the first narrower faces having awidth between the first wider faces and smaller than that of each of thefirst wider faces, with the first wrench being releasably and fixedlycoupled with the first coupling section of the rack; and a second wrenchincluding a second handle having first and second ends and a transitionsection between the first and second ends of the second handle, with afirst handle section being formed between the first end of the secondhandle and the transition section, with a second handle section beingformed between the second end of the second handle and the transitionsection, with the first handle section of the second handle includingtwo opposite second wider faces and two opposite second narrower facesextending between and perpendicular to the second wider faces, with eachof the second wider faces having a width between the second narrowerfaces, with each of the second narrower faces having a width between thesecond wider faces and smaller than that of each of the second widerfaces, with the second handle section of the second handle including twoopposite third wider faces and two opposite third narrower facesextending between and perpendicular to the third wider faces, with thethird wider faces being perpendicular to the second wider faces, withthe third narrower faces being perpendicular to the second narrowerfaces, with each of the third wider faces having a width between thethird narrower faces, with each of the third narrower faces having awidth between the third wider faces and smaller than that of each of thethird wider faces, with the first handle section of the second wrenchbeing releasably and fixedly coupled with the second coupling section ofthe rack, with the third wider faces of the second handle section of thesecond wrench being perpendicular to the first narrower faces of thefirst wrench, with the third narrower faces of the second handle sectionof the second wrench being perpendicular to the first wider faces of thefirst wrench, and with the first and second wrenches being adapted to beheld by a hand of a person trying the first and second wrenches bygrasping one of the first narrower faces distant to the second wrenchand one of the third wider faces distant to the first wrench.
 2. Thedisplay rack as claimed in claim 1, with the first coupling sectionincluding two parallel, spaced positioning walls defining a positioninggroove therebetween for receiving the first handle, with a spacingbetween the positioning walls being substantially the same as that ofthe width of each of the first wider faces of the first handle, and withthe first narrower faces of the first handle respectively abutting withinner faces of the positioning walls.
 3. The display rack as claimed inclaim 2, with the positioning groove including a bottom wall between thepositioning walls, with the bottom wall including a screw hole, with thefirst handle further including an engaging hole extending from one ofthe first wider faces through the other first wider face, furthercomprising, in combination: a screw extending through the engaging holeof the first handle into the screw hole for fixing the first wrench inthe positioning groove.
 4. The display rack as claimed in claim 3, withthe engaging hole of the first handle being a screw hole.
 5. The displayrack as claimed in claim 1, with the second coupling section includingtwo parallel, spaced positioning walls defining a positioning groovetherebetween for receiving the first handle section of the secondhandle, with a spacing between the positioning walls being substantiallythe same as that of the width of each of the second wider faces of thefirst handle section of the second handle, and with the second narrowerfaces of the first handle section of the second handle respectivelyabutting with inner faces of the positioning walls.
 6. The display rackas claimed in claim 5, with the positioning groove including a bottomwall between the positioning walls, with the bottom wall including ascrew hole, with the first handle section of the second handle furtherincluding an engaging hole extending from one of the second wider facesthrough the other second wider face, further comprising, in combination:a screw extending through the engaging hole of the second handle intothe screw hole for fixing the first handle section of the second wrenchin the positioning groove.
 7. The display rack as claimed in claim 6,with the engaging hole of the first handle section of the second wrenchbeing a screw hole.